I would like to take a look at today's concept of love everyone in most modern churches. There are so many references, stories and examples in the Bible on love, and we'll take a look at key ones to define the love of God. Moreover, we'll also take a look at today's agenda in most churches; which is categorizing one sin as different from the other. In order to go along with society, and become relevant in the sight of the world. The questions I will present in this article have not yet been answered substantially nor responded to with scriptural accuracy from those who practice this ideology. The reason is because there is no correct justifiable answer for compromising the truths of scripture. Please hold your opinions until the completion of reading this article. My only desire is to shed light from the truths of Christ. Now for the matter of let's love everyone. Let us go to the word.

•Leviticus 19:18 NASB You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

•Matthew 22:34-40 NASB

Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

•John 13:34-35 NASB

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

•1 John 4:7-8 NASB

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is ]born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

•1 John 4:9-12 NASB

By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

Love Thy Neighbor

To comment on this context of Loving thy neighbor as we find in Matthew 22:30-40, I want to quote John Piper.

John Piper writes

“So loving others is the outward manifestation, the visible expression, the practical demonstration, and therefore the fulfillment of what the Old Testament is about. So there is a sense in which the second commandment (to love your neighbor) is the visible goal of the whole Word of God. It's not as though loving God is not here, or that loving God is less important; rather loving God is made visible and manifest and full in our visibly, practically, sacrificially loving others.”

Love One Another

It’s extremely important for us to understand that when Jesus is talking about the love we ought to have towards another. The “another” in John 13:34-35, 1 John 4:7-8, and 1 John 4:9-12 are the believers of Jesus Christ. Those of the household of God. Even though, these are so often used to support a view that says this applies to everyone. It takes away from it’s meaning. There are other references in the Bible that talk about the love we should have for all of mankind ( Matthew 22:34-40) These above texts are not to be used to speak of our love for all of mankind.

Matthew Henry commentates on this.

“Divine love to the brethren should constrain ours: Beloved (I would adjure you by your interest in my love to remember), if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another, 1 John 4:11. This should be an invincible argument. The example of God should press us. We should be followers (or imitators) of him, as his dear children. The objects of the divine love should be the objects of ours. Shall we refuse to love those whom the eternal God hath loved? We should be admirers of his love, and lovers of his love (of the benevolence and complacency that are in him), and consequently lovers of those whom he loves. The general love of God to the world should induce a universal love among mankind. That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth his rain on the just and on the unjust, Matt. 5:45. The peculiar love of God to the church and to the saints should be productive of a peculiar love there: If God so loved us, we ought surely (in some measure suitably thereto) to love one another.

What is Love?

All this talk about love naturally leads to the question of what is love? Rather a better question is what the does the Bible say about love. Does it define it? Does it give examples of it? Yes it absolutely does. So let us see what love means through the lens of the Bible.

Love Defined in the Old Testament

The word love is used in the Old Testament 208 times in the following examples. The Hebrew word is Ahab pronounced aw-hab' and Aheb pronounced Aw-habe';a prim. root to have affection for. Ahab or Aheb means "to love; like" Basically this verb is equivalent to the English " to love" in the sense of having a strong emotional attachment to and desire either to posses or to be in the presence of the object. ( See Strong's Concordance of the Bible )

•The word is also used of the love between parents and their children.

In its first biblical appearance, the word represents Abraham's special attachment to his son Isaac, whom he lovest..."(Genesis 22:2)"

•The word sometimes depicts a special strong attachment a servant may have toward a master under whose dominance he wishes to remain. Exodus 21:5 NASB But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,’

•A special use of the this word relates to an especially close attachments of friends

1 Samuel 18:1 NASB Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.
This verb is used politically to describe the loyalty of a vassal or a subordinate to his LORD.

Love is the nature of God himself

• Deuteronomy 7:7-8 NASB

“The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

•1 John 4:8 NASB

The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Love defined in the New Testament

The Greek word for love is: Agape pronounced ag-ah'-pay; i.e. love, affection, or benevolence; spec. (plur) a love feast:- love used 86 times in the New Testament, and charity used 27 times. Agape expresses a deep love and affection towards its object.

The attitude of God towards his son.

•John 17:26 NASB

and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Towards the human race:

•John 3:16 NASB

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

•Romans 5:8 NASB

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The greatest example of love is the love of God for His children Which is shown in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

•John 15:9-17 NASB

Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another.

The sacrificial love of Christ

This love of Christ is a sacrificial love. A love that doesn’t ask for your love first. This is a love that keeps it’s promise, and demonstrates it commitment towards the ones it loves. It’s word are genuine and true, and this love will never abandon you.

Charles Spurgeon writes

You never hear Jesus say in Pilate’s judgement hall one word that would let you imagine that He was sorry that He had undertaken so costly a sacrifice for us. When His hands are pierced, when He is parched with fever, His tongue dried up like a shard of pottery, when His whole body is dissolved into the dust of death, you never hear a groan or a shriek that looks like Jesus is going back on His commitment.

Let's test this love

In light of the rise of the lgbt movement through the last few years, and it's demands for equality. Both from society, and from the churches. Sadly I have seen in response to this the decline of biblical truths being upheld, under the banner of “love thy neighbor”. However, they neglect that before Jesus said this, He first said “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and mind.” So it is impossible to love your neighbor as yourself if you don’t first love God. In addition, to loving God you must love His word. Don't neglect to remember that in the beginning the Word, and the Word became flesh. That becoming of flesh was Christ. So we love Christ, we then also must every part of His Word, and not just what you want to love. The two are inseparable.

Yet, many professing Christians disguise their desire to be seen as relevant or progressive by the world, as loving their neighbor. They say they stand with the lgbt, and speak out against the wrong being done to them. Yes it is wrong when anyone is being treated unjustly. However, why is the same stance not being taken for everyone else? If you are such a big advocate of showing the love of Christ to your neighbor. I'm going to assume you show this love to everyone and embrace everyone right? And In the same way would you embrace those in the lgbt community? Do you extend it to sex offenders, child molesters, murderers, abusers, and rapists with the same "love thy neighbor" stance? Or do you only show us to the lgbt because that's the new mainstream campaign?

Consider your heart towards criminals. Do you become like the Pharisees when you think of them? When reports of abuse come on the news do you feel sympathetic towards the ones who committed the act? Before you answer, let’s look at all the other neighbors you have. And how society looks wrongly upon.

These people are your neighbors too

Sex offender

They feel there is nothing wrong with it, but society judges them for something they can't stop doing…..

A sex offender (sexual offender, sex abuser or sexual abuser) is a person who has committed a sex crime or in some instances even mere public urination. What constitutes a sex crime differs by culture and legal jurisdiction. Most jurisdictions compile their laws into sections, such as traffic, assault and sexual. The majority of convicted sex offenders have convictions for crimes of a sexual nature; however, some sex offenders have simply violated a law contained in a sexual category. Some of the crimes which usually result in a mandatory sex-offender classification are: a second prostitution conviction, sending or receiving obscene content in the form of SMS text messages (sexting), relationship between young adults and teenagers resulting in corruption of a minor (if the age between them is greater than 1,060 days; if any sexual contact was made by the adult to the minor, child molestation has occurred). If sexual conduct occurred, unlawful sexual conduct involving a minor has occurred. Other serious offences are sexual assault, statutory rape, bestiality, child sexual abuse, female genital mutilation, incest, rape, and sexual imposition.

( Resource: Wikipedia) Continue to read the resource article.

•Culture is what I want to touch on for this topic. Did you know that here are people who believe having intimate relationships with children are genuine and true to who they are. They feel there is nothing wrong with it, but society judges them for something they can't stop doing, and they see nothing wrong with it because they truly love these children. Furthermore, they have historical proof of traditions and cultures in which, children are arranged to be married as a child, and girls are able to bare children as soon as they receive their menstrual cycle.

•In a article written titled “Sex Offenders Facing Increased Vigilantism”
Website By Patrick K. Burke says this “The stigma that comes with being charged with a sex crime can make it difficult for the accused in many aspects. Many of these crimes have received high publicity, meaning many jurors are already familiar with the case before hearing any of the details. While an experienced criminal defense attorney can help in the courtroom, many accused sex offenders are finding that they are facing potentially dangerous situations in the community.

Vigilantism is on the rise against sex offenders, even those who have not been convicted of any crimes. Several examples of attacks on sex offenders have made news.”

Rapist:

Many rapist consider themselves victims

Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or against a person who is incapable of valid consent, such as one who is unconscious, incapacitated, or below the legal age of consent. The term rape is sometimes used interchangeably with the term sexual assault. Internationally, the incidence of rapes recorded by the police during 2008 varied between 0.1 in Egypt per 100,000 people and 91.6 per 100,000 people in Lesotho with 4.9 per 100,000 people in Lithuania as the median. According to the American Medical Association (1995), sexual violence, and rape in particular, is considered the most underreported violent crime. The rate of reporting, prosecution and convictions for rape varies considerably in different jurisdictions. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (1999) estimated that 91% of U.S. rape victims are female and 9% are male. Rape by strangers is usually less common than rape by persons the victim knows, and several studies argue that male-male and female-female prison rape are quite common and may be the least reported forms of rape.

(Resource Wikipedia) Continue to read the resource article.

•Many rapist consider themselves victims at times. Many of them actually were victims of rape, or child abuse. Also they feel they are victims to the lustful ways of this world through the images from pornography, TV, music, and movies. You can't even by a magazine without a sexual image on the majority on the covers.

•In a article written in 2016 a group of vigilantes are mounting attacks on rapists. Here's what one of them has to say “We refuse to accept the repeated assaults and harassment against Swedish women. We refuse to accept the destruction of our once safe society. When our political leadership and police show more sympathy for murderers than for their victims, there are no longer any excuses to let it happen without protest."

Murderer

Abuse or trauma in their life has been a pleaded in trials to be an active reason

Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human, and generally this premeditated state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide (such as manslaughter). A person who commits murder is called a murderer. As the loss of a human being inflicts enormous grief upon the individuals close to the victim, and the commission of a murder is highly detrimental to the good order within society, most societies both present and in antiquity have considered it a most serious crime worthy of the harshest of punishment. In most countries, a person convicted of murder is typically given a long prison sentence, possibly a life sentence where permitted, and in some countries, the death penalty may be imposed for such an act. (Resource Wikipedia) Continue to read the resource article.

•It is sometimes unimaginable to think what possess a person to kill. And we see here many different reasons behind their motives. Abuse or trauma in their life has been pleaded to be an active reason. Also insanity pleas have been accepted with proof of mental illness and being incapable of knowledge that they were committing the act of murder, or that they had no control over their urge to kill due to the mental illness.

•Here's an article titled “100-Year Anniversary of the Hanging of Leo Frank
Remembering the lynching of a Jewish pencil factory manager”
By Michael Sainato 08/17/15 10:59am

On August 17, 1915, Leo Frank was kidnapped from prison in Milledgeville, Georgia by the Knights of Mary Phagan, a revitalized Ku Klux Klan group of prominent men from Cobb County, Georgia, where Frank was transported to nearly 170 miles away, and lynched. In 1986, the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles pardoned Frank on grounds of the state’s failures to protect him, without making a judgment on his guilt or innocence. The decision, in part, was affected by the confession of Alonzo Mann on his deathbed, an office worker at the pencil factory, who came forward with testimony that he had seen Jim Conley carrying the body of Mary Phagan by himself. The revelation received national news attention and reaffirmed belief that Frank had been innocent.

The case of Leo Frank was much more than just a seemingly wrong conviction of a factory manager. It was a public relations and ideological battle between northern and southern states, between rural and urban values, between competing disempowered groups. Beyond all this, it is a story that starkly reveals how impassioned hysteria, impervious to logic or reasoning, can lead to normal, law-abiding citizens committing atrocious acts of violence.

Abusers:

1) Child Abuser

In this case past trauma, mainly being abused as a child leads one to abuse their child or another child

Child abuse is the physical, sexual or emotional maltreatment or neglect of a child or children. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department for Children And Families (DCF) define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child. Child abuse can occur in a child's home, or in the organizations, schools or communities the child interacts with. There are four major categories of child abuse: neglect, physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, and sexual abuse. (Resource Wikipedia) Continue to read the resource article.

•Again in this case past trauma, mainly being abused as a child leads one to abuse their child or another child. Postpartum depression, and mental illness have also been linked to many cases of child abuse.

•Most parents who were abused as children say, 'I'll never treat my children the way I was treated,'" said Karen Askew, director of the National Exchange Club Foundation. "But people tend to parent the way they were parented themselves."

•It's hard enough for any parent to know what to do when a child acts out. For caregivers who themselves were disciplined with harsh physical punishment as a child, it's even harder. Studies show that one in three people who were abused as children will grow up to become an abuser.

•Now for parents who have adult children and try to reconnect with them are faced with many difficulties. Some may reconnect for various reasons, but the ones who generally want to reconnect after sorry are faced with difficulties. These are written about in an article titled “The Debt When terrible abusive parents come crawling back, what do their grown children owe them?” The writer says “I have been hearing from people in her position for years, adult children weighing whether to reconnect with parents who nearly ruined their lives. Loved ones and friends—sometimes even therapists—who urge reconnecting with a parent often speak as if forgiveness will be a psychic aloe vera, a balm that will heal the wounds of the past. They warn of the guilt that will dog the victim if the perpetrator dies estranged. What these people fail to take into account is the potential psychological cost of reconnecting, of dredging up painful memories and reviving destructive patterns.”

2. Domestic Abuser:

Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, dating abuse, and intimate partner violence (IPV), is a pattern of behavior which involves the abuse by one partner against another in an intimate relationship such as marriage, cohabitation, dating or within the family. Domestic violence can take many forms, including physical aggression or assault (hitting, kicking, biting, shoving, restraining, slapping, throwing objects, battery), or threats thereof; sexual abuse; controlling or domineering; intimidation; stalking; passive/covert abuse (e.g., neglect); and economic deprivation. Domestic violence can also mean endangerment, criminal coercion, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, trespassing, harassment, and stalking. While in most developed countries domestic violence is considered unacceptable by most people, in many regions of the world the views are different: according to a UNICEF survey, the percentage of women aged 15–49 who think that a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife under certain circumstances is, for example: 90% in Afghanistan and Jordan, 87% in Mali, 86% in Guinea and Timor-Leste, 81% in Laos, 80% in Central African Republic. Refusing to submit to a husband's wishes is a common reason given for justification of violence in developing countries: for instance 62.4% of women in Tajikistan justify wife beating if the wife goes out without telling the husband; 68% if she argues with him; 47.9% if she refuses to have sex with him. Traditionally, in most cultures, men had a legal right to use violence to "discipline" their wives. Although in the US and many European countries this right was removed from them in the late 19th/early 20th century, before the 1970s criminal arrests were very rare (occurring only in cases of extreme violence), and it was only in the 1990s that rigorous enforcement of laws against domestic violence became standard policy in Western countries.

(Resource Wikipedia) Continue to read the resource article.

•Not all men who batter are simple Neanderthals who know what they do is wrong and choose to do it anyway. And researchers say alcohol and drug problems are "probably not the precipitants of abuse." Counselors and behavioral researchers say that batterers often feel justified in their behavior and that society is unfairly persecuting them for their actions.

•Dr. Barnett said batterers often feel justified in battering because they were reared in an environment -- whether a family or neighborhood -- where violence was accepted as a proper method for solving problems or enforcing the rules. Between 40% and 70% of batterers in clinical samples have been exposed to abuse in childhood."Newer studies are beginning to show that batterers may have suffered psychological abuse as well and consequently feel insecure," Dr. Barnett said. "As adults they become emotionally dependent upon a wife and expect her to be responsible for making them happy. When she cannot make them happy, she is "letting them down." They do not know how to achieve happiness on their own."These men tend to be desperate about keeping their wives and beat them to prevent them from leaving," Dr. Barnett said. "They are miserable, suffering low self esteem, and are vulnerable to stress and hostile. They use battering to control their partners, and it seems to work, so they continue."

As you see society views criminals in a much more heinous and hateful way then they do with those of the lgbt community. However, it's not the highlight of the news channels because quit frankly society and the media cares little about them. They don't fit into their current agenda.

After reading these statistics and definitions can you say you love all these people who commit these acts of sin? Do you see one sin and lesser or greater than the other? I wonder why it’s so easy for one to stand side by side with a member of the lgbt, and not stand side by side with a rapist, and murder. It’s sad to see how comfortable many are around homosexuals, and yet, are so uncomfortable around a sex offender. Each and every act of sin is committing a crime against God. Each and every person that is not a believer lives in rebellion, and hates God. Yet, somehow certain offenses you're ok with I assume. This assumption is made from your actions and words. So many so called Christians change God’s word to say homosexuality is not a sin, don’t do the same for every other sin. Of course the human mind conceives these matters in that way. But God does not. Sin is sin in His eyes because He is a Holy and righteous God. Yet He loves every single person who commits these acts when they come to repentance and faith in Him.

•Romans 5:6-11 NASB

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Is It An Agenda?

How would you love any of these people? Would you ignore their sin? Would you make much or little of it? Or would you tell them they need to repent because they are a sinner that can only be saved from turning from their sin and turning to Christ? Because He is the one that will forgive them and cleanse them of all their sin, no matter the sin.

Society chooses a people to be called victims, deserving of better treatment than others because it fits into a political agenda. If you research American history you will find that upon any civil rights movement there has always been a political gain by the government. In addition, his mentality has found it's way into the church and as I stated earlier, it is disguised as " love thy neighbor". When in all actuality it is wanting to be relevant, and liked the world. While something more serious also plays a part, and that is categorizing sin, which is not at all biblical. Never in the Old Testament nor in the New Testament has God's opinion on what sin is changed. If God changed his mind on sin, why did Christ need to die? Surely king David and Paul the apostle who were murders wouldn't be saved. Let's further examine what would it look like if we were to categorize sin.

There has been a rise of treats on the churches; in regards, to their stance on homosexuality. Churches have been threatened to stop preaching against gay marriage, bakers have been fined for not baking a cake for a homosexuals couples wedding, people are being fired for voicing their belief on God’s design for marriage. To quote an article titled “Louisiana Senate Committee Rejects Bill Protecting Pastors Who Decline to Officiate ‘Gay Weddings’

By Heather Clark on May 25, 2016 about the demand for churches in Louisiana to officiate same sex marriages it says this. “A Senate committee in Louisiana has rejected a bill that would protect pastors who decline to officiate same-sex “weddings,” asserting that the move would be discriminatory. The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau expressed opposition to the measure, opining that if the bill were passed into law it could affect tourism in Louisiana. This type of pressure is not causing so many to compromise God’s truth. It is merely providing a way to show their true disbelief and distrust in God. The worry becomes what will the world do to us. As oppose to what will God do to us, or allow to happen to us, as a consequence of our sin.

How far will you compromise

Biblical marriage is at the forefront of the attacks on God and the Bible. Christians are being persecuted evermore so today in America when we even say we believe in marriage the way God intended it between a man and woman. We're called all sorts of cruel, and things, and falsely accused by the ones who are calling us cruel. But in the topic of homosexuality a soul is at stake. So why would you stop speaking on this topic because you're being forced to by society?

Abortion is another topic in which we are attacked for wanting to preserve a life. Yet many are still standing on this issue because a baby's life is at stake. Will you stop talking about this topic if the world told you to?

Fornication, which is called sex outside of marriage is probably the most practiced thing in this country. Schools are giving out condoms, and teaching sex education. The number of teen pregnancies have increased and became acceptable in society. STD'S are being transmitted rapidly without care. Are you going to stop teaching on purity because society told you to ?

Abuse is increasing in the world today, and has the broadest of categories that don't fit into one major issue. There's domestic violence, bullying, mental abuse, self harm, verbal abuse, drug abuse, human trafficking, sex trafficking, and child abuse. Are you going to stop talking about these issues if forced to by society?

Idolatry is by far the most practiced of things, because people are also screaming come worship me. They idolize their money, success, technology, devices, celebrities, partners, children, parents, themselves, and so much more. Are you going to stop taking on this issue when the world demands that you do?

Adultery, which is called having an affair is a huge cause for divorce in this country. Are you going to stop talking about this if the government no longer makes it illegal?

Drunkenness, kills how many people a year? Whether in the physical or the mental. It is so common for the average 14 yr old to known what alcohol taste like, and the wide spread of alcoholism in teenagers. Are you going to stop talking about this when society demands that you do?

Murder has not yet ceased to exist, people are being murdered everyday around the world. By many who practice many of the things mentioned above. Are you going to stop talking about this when forced to by the world?

These are just some of so many examples of the present sin that is evident in our world, and none is greater or less than the other. We have no authority to pardon any type of sin. Nor justify it to fit our emotional beliefs.

The word of God is very clear about sin

•1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NASB

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Yet today to many are choosing which sin is less than another to avoid persecution, hatred toward them, and a decrease in congregation numbers. When you allow politics or emotional philosophies govern what is preached in the pulpit of the church you've demoted Christ as the head of the church. Yes we are suppose to love our neighbor, and that also means the ones that are not a priority to society as well. There are so many that the world turns their back on because of the wrong that they do. It is for us to love them too. No matter what they might say about you, hold on to what Christ has told you.

•John 15:17-19 NASB
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.

•Luke 21:17 NASB
and you will be hated by all because of My name.

•1 John 3:13 NASB
Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.

•Matthew 5:11-13
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Preach the gospel of repentance, forgiveness of sins, and turning to God who will help us not to be enticed by them. He provides an escape to every temptation that we find ourselves in.

•James 1:13 NASB

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted [a]by God”; for God cannot be tempted [b]by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

“To simply choose who to preach repentance of sin to, and who not to, is not out of love for anyone. On the contrary, it is the very opposite. It is out of our love for God that drives our desire to see a soul saved. By which we know comes about only through the preaching of repentance and forgiveness of sins For it is the very core of the gospel message.” - Crystal Diaz

To live by the flesh in to live in rebellion towards God

•Romans 8:5-8 NASB

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

This is not just a matter of being lead by one’s emotion. It is a matter of your dislike towards God’s word. Which is a dislike towards God, and a sin against Him. If you understand the severity of this type of thinking and living. Will you sit back and just go with the flow of society while knowing that this person's soul is hell bound? Will you choose to avoid being persecuted, and stay silent. If you chose to disobey the word of God. You chose to serve man instead of God. You prefer to run from truth in the face of trials. And lose your faith in the words of Christ. What a tragedy that is because of the person and works of Jesus Christ. Christ spoke of this in a parable of people in which practice these things. As well as the people who follow Him and His teachings.

•Matthew 13:1-24 NASB

Jesus Teaches in Parables

That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach. And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. And others fell on the good soil and *yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

An Explanation

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;
You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
For the heart of this people has become dull,
With their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Otherwise they would see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

The Sower Explained

“Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

Tares among Wheat

Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

The ground in which the seed fell upon

•Hebrews 4:12 NASB

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

•Titus 3:16-17 NASB

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Ponder and examine the ground; in which, you are. Where has the seeds of the gospel fallen in your heart? You either believe what is written in the texts above, along with the whole of the scriptures, or you don’t. We either love God or we don’t. We either love or don't love someone enough to reveal their fallen state to them. This fallen state is their sinful nature and actions. We too were exposed to the truth of ourselves, and the truths of God. If indeed we actually have been born into new life. Let me implore you to truly examine your hearts and test to see that you indeed are in the faith. Especially if you don’t have a love for a humanity of people sitting in darkness under the dominion of the Satan the god of this world. Another type of thinking one might have is that because of the convicting and saving works of the Holy Spirit there isn’t much a need for me to show people their sins. The Holy Spirit is the only one that regenerates the heart, and mind. He is the only one that reveals the Son to mankind. He is the one that convicts the world of sin. Yes He is the one that works in the believer, but how does the sinner know he is a sinner. How does he know who Jesus even is? How will he know there is something or someone to have faith in? Let alone a Savior to believe in?

The answer is YOU the believer is whom the Lord has commissioned for this task

•Matthew 28:19-20 NASB

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you [b]always, even to the end of the age.”

•Romans 10:17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God

•Romans 10:14-16 NASB

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”

“If we believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the only begotten Son of God and that He came into this world and went to the cross of Calvary and died for our sins and rose again in order to justify us and to give us life anew and prepare us for heaven-if you really believe that, there is only one inevitable deduction, namely that He is entitled to the whole of our lives, without any limit whatsoever.”
¯ D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones